Tunneling-machine.



H, BORN & H. A. REGEN.

TUNKELING MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED 001725, 1911 1,,8L5?J4i Patented. Dee.16,1913.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 191 1.

Patented Dec. 16,1913.

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'ILH. BORN & H. A. REGEN.

TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00125, 1911.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913 3 SEEETB-SHEET 3.

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COLORADO.

TUNNELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 25, 191:1.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913. Serial No. 656,850.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HERMAN H. Bonn and HENRY A. Human, citizens of the United States of'America, residing at Denver, in.

' tory head which carries the battery or hat teries of impact-tools is rendered adjustable to adapt the machine for use in the production of excavations of difierent dimensions; in the provision of a mechanism which in connection with the oscillatory head, automatically feeds the machine toward the breast of the excavation; in the provision of automatic means for reversing the move ments'of the head; in the provision of a pneumatic spring to counterbalance the weight of the head during downward movement thereof; in the provision of a frictionclutch by means of which theoperative connection between the head and the motor by which it is driven,-is automatically discontinued when the head is subjected to unusual stress and, in the provision of an improved mechanism for removing the muck from t bottom of the excavation during downward movement of the head.

In the accompanying drawings, in the various views of which like parts are simi larly designated, Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevation of the machine, Fig.

2, a horizontal section taken along the line 2.2 F lg" lg Fig. 3 an enlarged elevation of the front-end of the oscillatory head, Fig. 4 a sectional view of the friction-clutch included in the construction, Fig. 5 an enlarged sectional plan view of. theair cylinder vand valve included in the reversing mechanism, Fig. 6 a section taken'along the line 5-6 Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 a fragmentary gview partially in section, of the front end of the head.

; Referring more specifically to the drawngs, the reference numeral 2 designates a carrier composed of a platform 3 which is supported upon wheels 4:, secured at opposite ends of parallel axles 5 which are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings below the plat form 3'and which are connected to rotate in unison bym eans of sprocket-wheels 6 and corresponding endless chains 7.

Standards 8 erected upon the platform to gether with a-roof-9, constitute a superstructure which carries the oscillatory head 10 at the front-end-of the machine, a reservoir 12 for compressed air, an elevated platform 13at the rear end of the machine for the support of an electric motor 14, and other parts of themechanism aS will hereinafter he described.--

The motor libeing provided to impel the machine in either direction, is connected with the rear-axle by means of a transmission mechanism which comprises a wormwheel 15 fixed on the axle, a worm 16 meshing with the said wheel, at the lower extremity of an upright shaft 17, a beveled,

friction-wheel 18 secured at the upper extremity of the shaft, a horizontal-shaft 19,

which by means of gear wheels 20'is connected. with the armature shaft of the motor and a sleeve 21 which is slidably'keyed on theshaft li) and which carries at its opposite ends beveled wheels 22 adapted to be brought separately infrictional engagement with-thewheel 18. A lever 23 of suitable construction is provided to adjust the position of *he sleeve on the shaft 19. The uprlght'shaft lZ-is furthern'iore provided with a 'beveled gear-wh which forms part of the automatic feed..- mechanism which will hereinafter be described.

The oscillatory head 10 at the forward end of the machine carries two batteries of impact engines 25 each of which is composed of two convergent series, the cutting tools -26 of which have their working edges in horizontal alinemcnt. The head 10 consists essentially of a supporting frame, the parallel side-bars 27 ofwhich are longitudinally adjustably connected with toothed segments 28. The latter are to this end provided with olts which pro ect through slots in the as shown in 1 of the ings, and whose protruding ends carry nuts 29 by urch the parts may be-olamped in their adjusted positions.

The side 27 carry their forward ends, transverse bolts 36 for the pivotal connection two divergent pairs of arms 31, the corresponding members of which are adjustably connected by means of pivotal, oppositely-threaded bolts 32 and therewith associated turn-buckles The ends of the bolts 30 are threaded and nuts screwed upon the said ends, serve to clampingly secure the connected arms 31in their adjusted position on the respective side-bars. The arms of each pair are connected by means of two convergent plates at which are articulately attached thereto at their rearward edges, as

I at 13, and which near their opposite edges are connected by bolts and'turnbuckles 35,

which serve to adjust their of convergence. V v I The impact engines 25 comprised in vthe two series of each battery are firmly and separately adjustably secured upon the plates 34:, as shown in Fig. 7 and they are, in the operation of the machine supplied with motive fluid from the reservoir 12 by means of communicating manifolds 36 mounted on the oscillatory frame, pipes 37 which connect the forward manifold separately with the cylinders of the several engines, and a swivel iointed conduit 38 which connects the rearward manifold with the reservoir. The latter is supplied with compressed air by means of an air-compressor which is preferably mounted on the platform 8 and which for obvious reasons has been omitted from the drawings.

The twoisegments 28 arefixed upon a horizontal shaft 39 and they are engaged by gear-wheels l6 on another shaft ll which is opcratively connected with a motor lf/3 on the platform by means of a transmission mechanism hereinafter to be described. The two shafts 69 and ll are revolubly mounted at their extremities in bearing boxes ll; and formed integral with sliding bars as, which are yertically adjustably connected with the foremost pair of standards 8 comprised in the super-structure. This 'connectionis established by the use of two endless screws '47 which are rotatably mounted in brackets 48 on the standards and which extend through correspondingly threaded openings in lugs 49 at the upper extremities of the bars 4.6.

The mechanism by means of which the rotary motion of the armature shaft of the motor i2 is transmitted to the shaft 41, comprises a horizontal shaft 50 which is rotatably supported on pedestals 95, and which is provided at one of its ends with a Worm 51 which meshes with a worm-wheel- 52 on the shaft ll, and at its opposite end with a beveled friction wheel '53. v

A sleeve 54; having at its opposite ends, beveled wheels 55, isslidably keyed upon a transverse shaft 56 which by means of gears 57 is, connected with the motor-shaft, and th sleeve is connected with a piston 58 fitted in a cylinder '59, for the purpose of moving the beveled Wheels at its ends, alternately into frictional engagement with'the larger wheel 53,

In the operation of the machine, the oppositc ends of the cylinder 59 are alternately brought in communication with the reservoir 12 through the instrumentality of a three-way valve 60, the stem of which is provided with a handle 61 to enable the operator to control the movements of the oscillatory head 10. Ordinarily, however, the valve is reversed automatically when the head reaches the ends of its up-and-downward movements, by means of a rod 62 which is slidably mounted in bearings on the superstructuraand which is pivotally connected with one of the segments 28. The rod 62 carries two adjustable tappets 63 which are disposed at opposite sides of the valve handle 61 to alternately engage the same during the reciprocating movement of the rod imparted thereto by its connection with the segment 28.

The mechanism for automatically advancing the machine toward the breast of the excavation comprises a shaft 64: provided with a beveled gear wheel 65 which engages the before mentioned wheel 2% on the upright shaft 17. A ratchet'wheel 66 fixed on the shaft 6%,is engaged at opposite sides of its center by pawls 67 which are respec tively pivotally attached at the ends of arms 68 which are articulately connected with a rocker arm 69 mounted on the latform 3. A rod 70 slidably mounted in bearings on the super-structure, is pivotally connected with one of the segments 28 on the oscillatory head, and it carries two adjustable tappets 71, which alternately engage the rocker arm 69 during the reciprocating motion of the rod, to impart through the instrumentality of the pawls 67 and the ratchet wheel 66, an intermittent rotary movement to the shaft 64 which movement is by means of the gear-wheels 65 and 24:, the Worm 16 and the worm-Wheel 15, transmitted to the axles 5 of the carrier.

It will be understood that while the above described automatic feeding mechanism is in operation, both the driving friction wheels '22 are separated from the driven 'wheel 18 on the shaft 1?, and that when the motor-driven transmission mechanism is employed to impel the carrier in either direction, the two pawls 67 are lifted out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel 66 by reversing their position on the anal ses respective arms 68.=

' To prevent stripping of the teeth of the segments 28 and the gear-wheels 4:0, or ot er damage to the transmission-mechanism by unusual stress on the oscillatory head, as for example, case a rock dis lodged from theexcavation falls upon the supporting frame,-the worm-wheel 52 is connected with the shaft 41 by means of a friction clutch shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

The wheel 52is to this end, loosely mounted on the sliaft in between two disks 72 and 78, one of which is fixed on the shaft while the other is resiliently held in frictional engagement with the wheel by a coiled spring 74 which abuts against a fixed collar 75 on the shaft. I

A housing .76. surrounding the parts is provided to protect them from dust andfalling rocks. The wei ht of the oscillatory I head is, during the ownward movement thereof, counter-balanced by means of a tween the shafts 39 and 41 .on the head and pneumatic spring comprising a cylinder 77 which communicates at its forward end with the'reservoir 12, and a piston 7 8 which is fitted in the cylinder and which is connected with the forward portion of the head by means of a cable 79 which runs over a sheave 80.

'- To remove the muck which, during the operation of the machine, falls to the bottom of the excavation, we provide a scraper 81 formed at the forward end of two longitudinally slotted, parallel bars 82 which have a combined longitudinal and pivotal movement upon the extremities of a shaft 83 which is supported below the platform.

The forward portion of this scraper is suspended from the corresponding portion of the head 10 by means of a chain 84:, while the rearward ends of the bars 82 are connected with lever-arms 90 on the extremities of the shaft 39, by means of cables 85 which run over sheaves 86 on the superstructure of cavation by reason of its connection with the forward portion of the head, and when theyllatter moves downwardly, it descends by gravity until it engages the forward portion of the blade 87'and isdrawn rearwardly across the same by means of the cables 85 which connect the ends of the bar 82 with the arms 90 on the shaft 39.

; tools.

It will be understood that by adjusting the position of the frame which carries the batteries of impact-tools, on the segments 28, the length of the arc traversed by the cutting edges on the steels 26, and in consequence, the vertical dimension of the excavation, may be readily varied, that by changing the angle of convergence of the pairs of arms 31, the extent of the oscillatory movement of the head required to engage the entire breast of the excavation, may be varied, that by vertical adjustment of the connected bearings 44 and which support the shafts 39 and 41, the height of the excavation above the surface upon which the machine is supported, is determined,

and that by adjustment of the plates 34 which support the series of impact-tools comprised in each battery, the alinement of the cutting edges of the tools may be maintained, irrespective of the length of the said To maintainthe operative connections bethe therewith associated parts of the mechanism which are mounted on the platform 3,- while the head is vertically adjusted by means of the screws 47, the pedestals 95 are made extensible in a vertical direction, the bearings 96 and 97 in which the rods 62 and are supported are vertically adjustable, in slots in the standards 8 to which they are secured, and the rocker-arm 69 is pro vided at its upper end with a pivotally connected sleeve 98 which serves to guide the rod 70 and to maintain it in its operative position relative to the arm.

It will furthermore be observed that the detachability of the plates 84 permits of their being interchanged with plates of greater length in case it is desired to in crease the number of impact tools comprised in each series for the purpose of producing an excavation of greater Width.

By separately adjusting the tools com prised in each battery which may be readily accomplished by inserting the bolts by which they are securecL-in different holes of the series formed in the plates 34, as shown in Fig. 7, their cutting edges may be arranged in either a curved or straight line in accordance with the form desired for the floor and roof of the excavation.

Where two batteries are employed, as in the construction shown in the drawings, the cutting edges on the upper one may be arranged in a curved line and those on the lower one in a straight line, with the result that the excavation produced by the operation of the machine will have a level floor and an arched roof.

While theimpact-tools may be of any desired form we prefer to employ straight edged chisels, it being understood that in the operation of the engines, the tools do not rotate but disinte rate the rock by their CD J impact upon the surface thereof,

We wish it understood that while we have shown and described our improved tunnel ing machine in the best form present known to us, variations in the construction and the arrangement of the parts by which the various functions are performed, may

be resorted to within the spirit of our invention and that, while wedo not desire to limit ourselves to the use of any special impact engine, we preferably employ engines of'the character shown and described in our applications for patent, Serial Numbers 573,83 l and 629,693, in which a recipro cating hammer is impelled by compressed. air to forcibly engage the end of a'steel longitudinally movably supported at the end of the housing in which said hammer has its movefiient. I

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is 1. in a tunneling machine, a carrier, a head having an oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis at the forward end thereof, a battery of cuttingtools onsaid head, an element having an inclined surface, connected with said carrier to engage a surface upon which the latter is supported, a

scraper adapted to move muck produced by actlon of sald cutting-tools, rearwardly across said surface, and a conveyor for moving the muck falling from said surface to the rear end of the carrier, the said scraper being connected with said head to be operated thereby during its downward movement.

2. In a tunneling machine, acarrier, a head having an oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis at the forward end thereof, a battery of cutting tools on said head, a conveyor for moving muck produced by action of said cutting tools toward the rear end of the carrier, a scraper. adapted to move the muck toward said conveyer, and a connection between said scraper and the head for operating the former during downward movement of the latter.

3. In a tunneling'machine, a carrier, a head having an oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis at the'forward end thereof, a battery of cutting tools on said head,- a conveyer for moving muck produced by action of said cutting-tools toward the rear end of the carrier, a device for moving the muck onto said conveyor, and connections between said head and said device whereby the latter is raised during upward more ment of the head and lowered and actuated during downward movement of the same.

4. In a tunneling machine, a carrier, a head having an oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis, at the forward end thereof, a battery of cutting tools on said head, a

convcyer for moving much produced by ac tion of said cuttingtools toward the rear end of tlu carrier, a scraper adapted to move the muck toward said conveyor and connections between said head and said scraper whereby the latter is raised and moved forwardly during upward movement of the head and lowered and moved rearwardly during downward movement of the same 5. In a tunneling machine, a support, a head having an oscillatory movement thereon, convergent plates articulately connected with said head, of cutting tools on said plates, and means for adjusting the angle of convergence between said plates by moving them about their axes of articulation.

l'n atunneling machine, a support, a head having an osclllatory movement there on, convergent plates on said head, series of cutting tools on said plates, and means for varying the of convergence bet-ween the same,

'., In a tunneling machine, a suppcrt,'a

head having an oscillatory movement-about I a horizontal axis thereon, two batteries of. cutting tools arranged on said head, one above the other, the cutting edges of the tools of. each battery being horizontally alined, and means for adjusting said batteries to-vary the distance between the lines of their respective cuttin edges.

8. In a tunneling mac ine, a support, a frame having an oscillatory movement thereon, divergent arms pivotally mounted at an end of said frame, batteries of cutting. tools at the ends of said arms, and means for adjusting the angle of divergence between said arms.

9. ln a tunneling machine, a support, a frame having an oscillatory movement thereon, divergent arms pivotally mounted at an. end of said frame, batteries of cutting tools at the ends of said arms, and each comprising two convergent series, means for ad justing the angle of divergence between said arms, and means for adjusting the angle of convergence between said serles.

10. In a tunnelin machine,, a carrier, a head havin an osci latory movement-about a horizontal axis at the forward end thereof, and a battery of reciprocating cutting tools mounted on the said head toengage a sur face in front of said carrier, means for advancing said carrier toward said surface, said head being adjustably mounted to vary the distance between the cuttingcdges of said tools and the said axis, whereby to vary the depth of an excavation produced by the action of said tools.

11. In a tunneling machine, a wheeledciprocating cutting tools mounted on the said head to engage a surface in front of said carrier, means for advancing said carrier toward said surface, and means on said carrier for imparting a reciprocating movement to said head by operative engagement with said segment, the said head being adjustable on the saidsegment' to vary the distance between its axis of oscillation and the cutting edges of said tools, whereby to varythe depth of an excavation tion of the same.

12. In a tunnelin machine-,a carrier, a head having an oscifiatory movement thereon, a battery of cutting tools on said head comprising two convergent series the cutting edges of which are alined in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of oscillation of said head, and means .for varying the angle of convergence of said series to main produced by actain said alinement irrespective of the length of said tools. 13. In a tunneling machine, a carrier, :1 frame vertically, adjustably mounted thereon a battery of cutting tools mounted to os-' ci ate about a horizontal axison said frame, a power transmission mechanism for oscillating said battery, disposed partly; on said frame and partly on said carrier, the last mentioned part of said mechanism being ad-.

justable to maintain it in its operative relation to its part on said frame when, the lat-.

ter is adjusted to a different position .for varying the elevation of said axis.

14. In a tunnelin machine. a carrier, a

head having an osci atory movement thereon, two batteries of cutting tools on said head, their respective cutting edges being alined, and means for changing the distance between the lines of the cutting edges on the said batteries. g

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

-' HERMAN H. BORN.

HENRY A. RECEN. Witnesses:

' G. J. ROLLANDET,

L. RHOADES. 

